Category Literature
The world of Saudi literature is reaching more English-language readers, with an increasing number of translations in recent years. You can now experience the intricate characters and thought-provoking plots of authors like Badriah Albeshr and Mohammed Hasan Alwan. Not to… Continue Reading →
When you see the name Naguib Mahfouz, the titles of his famous Cairo Trilogy are often not far behind. Palace Walk, Palace of Desire, and Sugar Street… But these are just a few of Mahfouz’s many books and published works…. Continue Reading →
Your standard history textbook — so often it’s a dry text packed with names and dates. The absurdly heavy volume that teachers assign for homework and quizzes. In short, no fun… So how can we make history fun again? Well,… Continue Reading →
By beautiful happenstance (or was it fate?), I recently stumbled into the wonderful world of Tunisian fiction. I tore through Yamen Manai’s The Ardent Swarm, an elegantly crafted parable that mixes nature, political commentary, and human courage. I inhaled Shukri… Continue Reading →
Dear Other Things, can you tell me your favorite resources? How do you decide what to write about? And where do you find your information? I get questions like this a lot, people asking where I get the ideas and… Continue Reading →
I feel a special connection to the Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani (“Kabbani” in some cases). My wedding had two readings of Arabic poems, including one of Qabbani’s. His poetry was the perfect addition to our ceremony, as his work is… Continue Reading →
Whatever your religion, the month of Ramadan is a unique opportunity to read books to your kids. Take this time to read stories about this Muslim holiday with your family. There are some great ones to choose from — Ramadan… Continue Reading →
Quick, how many Kuwaiti authors can you name? If you follow literary awards like the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, you may know the work of Saud Alsanousi. His novel The Bamboo Stalk won this award in 2013. But what… Continue Reading →
In my pursuit of new things to read (#booknerd), I can’t resist a good book list. Recommendations from other voracious readers? Yes please! Finalists for the latest literary prizes, or classic works organized by country or era? Bring it on!… Continue Reading →
If you’ve read some Turkish literature, chances are you know the excellent work of Turkish authors Orhan Pamuk and Elif Shafak. These prolific writers have best-sellers that are published in dozens of languages around the world and frequently compete for international awards. Pamuk himself won… Continue Reading →